AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 21, 25 May 1910, Page 5

AUCKLAND.

Labour's Political Aim. For some weeks past statements have been persistently made that Labourites in Auckland were secretly moving in the direction of conspiring to seriously embarrass the Liberal Administration by withdrawing their support and arranging a coalition with the Opposition. It now transpires that these reports, which wo discredited at the time, were quite unfounded. We are assured that the Labour party has had no idea of giving support to the Opposition, and that the reports published were absolutely inaccurate.

A City in Mourning.

Friday was observed in Auckland, and throughout the Dominion generally, as a close day of mourning in connection with the funeral of the late King Edward VII. All business was suspended, and the ceremonials in Auckland were attended by thousands of mourners. Church services were held in the forenoon, and again at 2.30 in the afternoon. The day was gloriously fine, and the solemnities in various parts of the city were well attended. An imposing military parade was held, the garrison troops assembling in Prinees-street and marching, via Shortland-street and Queen-street, to their respective churches. The streets along the route of procession were densly packed with many thousands of people, the crowd in Queen and Wellesley streets being reminisces 1 of Fleet Week in Auckland. Most ot the public buildings and business places were draped in mourning colours of black and purple, and the scene in the main streets, at the time of the military parade, was striking and impressive. Railway and tramway traffic was suspended between

2.30 and 2.45 p.m.. and the day was as closely observed as Sunday would be. At 3.40 p.m. (an hour before sunset) the first of 68 guns was fired in Albert Park, and with the final military salute the organised ceremonials of the day cuu-

Trawling in Kaipara.

The first experimental trawl on the West coast of the Auckland province was made last week, when the tug Sterling, which has been fitted up as a trawler, went over the Kaipara Bar for a day’s fishing. The haul was a splendid one, no less than seventy tons of fish, mostly sehnapper, but including also bream, barracoutta and other food fish in good quantities. In one haul two tons of fish were lifted, and several others ran to a ton. The bottom is good, and there are millions of acres which can be swept, so that heavy and regular supplies should shortly be available. Large smoke houses will be erected, and, in addition to the Auckland market, the towns along the railway line will be exploited.

"Waikato Musical and El tcutionary Competition.

The second competition inaugurated by the Waikato Musical and Elocutionary Society was successfully opened in Hamilton on Monday last by Mr 11. J. Greensladc, M.P. In the course of a eulogistic speech, Mr Greenslade spoke •of the zeal and enthusiasm displayed by the chairman (the Rev. H. L. Blamircs), and also by the hon. secretary (Mr Fred Daniell)’, and the committee, to whose efforts the present huge success was to be attributed. A. great amount of interest had evidently been taken, for there were no less than 360 competitors—an increase of over 100 in the 36 classes, drawn from Auckland, Thames, Waihi, New Plymouth, Dunedin and Cambridge. Monday’s concerts were devoted chiefly to the children's items, which, despite the bad weather, were given before good audiences. In the evening the impromptu speech class was looked forward to with great eagerness. It turned out this year to be “On Minding Baby,” and great was the amusement of the audience while the competitors struggled with the troublesome subject, one finally giving up in confusion, amid -the good-humoured banter of the listeners. Colonel Bell eventually carried off the honours in that class. The children's choir was also an interesting item, the Hamilton Wesley children coming first, Frankton second, the choir from Mrs Whitehorn's school nob doing themselves justice through nervousness.

On Tuesday afternoon there were more children’s items—the class for pianoforte duet calling forth ten pairs of competitors, the marking being very close between the prize-winners. The evening concert was particularly well attended, standing room only being available. The soprano solo honours were won for Frankton by Mrs Bellini, Miss Parker winning second for Waihi. In the recitations, Mr Gaze came easily first out of the eight entries, while the first bass soloist proved to be Mr Powell, from Waihi; the vocal duet honours also going to the same place, won by Miss M. Parker and Mr 8. Williams. On Wednesday the concerts were specially well patronised, owing somewhat, no doubt, to the glorious weather, and also to the fact that special trains were running from Thames, Waihi and Cambridge. The contralto solo was the special class, the honours being earned for Auckland by Miss Gwenyth Evans. The vocal quartet, for mixed voices, was very plea-ant. to listen to, the liest one in the judge's opinion being the Grafton road party, Auckland, Cambridge being second. The test anthem for choirs was won this year by Wesley Church. Hamilton, with S2 marks, Grafton road. Auckland, coming second (81), and St. James’. Thames, third (with SO); the anthem afterwards being sung by massed choirs, under the leadership of Mr Riley (the conductor of the winning choir). We are sure, when all accounts are made up. that the society will have scored a huge success, certainly pecuniarily, and we hope from an educational standpoint, also, and heartily congratulate the management upon the result attained.

Auckland's By-election.

A Mysterious Sickness.

The Chief Government, Veterinarian (Mr. Reakes) and staff have received instructions from the Minister for Agriculture to make exhaustive experiments into the mysterious bush sickness among cattle ami sheep on the newly cleared

land in the country between I’oforita and Okoroire. The Minister will also recommend a series of te-t- as to what fertilisers and grasses are suitable for worked out gum land in the \tnkland district.

It was with deep and genuine regret that the large circle of Mr. F. E. Bamne's relatives and friends learned on Monday. through a private telegram received from Mrs. Baume, that he died nt Nauheim on Saturday last. Mr. I’aumcs death has rendered necessary a try-elec-tion in Auckland East, and there are already quite a large number of Candida les announced.